Severe Pre Eclampsia: intrauterine growth restriction and perinatal outcome in preterm gestations

Preeclampsia severa: restricción del crecimiento intrauterino y desenlaces perinatales en gestaciones pretérmino

Objective: to describe frequency of perinatal complications in preterm gestations associated to severe preeclampsia, with or without intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Materials ami methods: this is a descriptive study of single pregnancies, severe preeclampsia and preterm birth between weeks 24 and 34, with and without IUGR, conducted between January 2007 and December 2009. Fetal monitoring was conducted every 48 hours, fetal biophysical profile testing (BPP) twice a week and fetal and placental Doppler every week. R sults: 55 patients with mean age 29.6 (SD 6.4) years were assessed; mean gestational age was 29.9 (SD 2.9) weeks, lower in the group with IUGR (28.8 (SD.3.1) vs 31.2 (SD 2.0)). IUGR was present in 30 (54.5%) pregnancies. Perinatal death occurred in 17 cases (31%) 15 with IUGR. Most perinatal deaths occurred in pregnancies of less than 28.6 weeks. Conclusions: perinatal mortality rate in preeclampsia in early gestational age is high in our hospital, especially associated with IUGR. This association may act in a synergic manner on complications caused by prematurity. We expect better perinatal results as we improve prenatal and neonatal care delivery.

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